OCTOBER 3, 1944

NEW YORK, Monday—The captain of the
WAC
recruiting group in Poughkeepsie, New York, brought some of her staff to see the
President's library yesterday, and they had a picnic lunch with us on the lawn at
the cottage.

They were such nice young people and the day was such a beautiful day, I could not
help thinking how much we people here at home have for which to be thankful. No robot
bombs to sail through the sky and make us wonder where they will strike, no hostile
airplanes to watch. I wonder how anyone can complain because he cannot get butter,
or the particular meat he wants. I do not happen to know where black markets exist,
but if I did know, I would feel disloyal to the boys fighting for us in the far parts
of the world, and to the young men and women serving here, if I bought anything in
that way.

Early this morning a young man whom I saw at Walter Reed Hospital, last winter, came
to see me. He is now working in Washington Square Park and he looks well and strong,
but his ears will probably never be entirely well. He has one brother in the Pacific,
and another in France. He showed me with pride a letter from the one in France. It
was extremely well written, and showed that an infantryman can fight from hedgerow
to hedgerow, and still see the country around him and understand the people whom he
is helping to liberate.

The boy's sisters have their husbands in the army, too—one in the air force, and one
who for nearly three years has been in the Pacific. This is just an ordinary American
family; but what a wonderful record, and how much we civilians owe to these men who
have met the call of their country so magnificently!

Someday
in the near future, we hope an armistice will be signed and peace will come to the
blood-stained continent of Europe. Many people here are worried that on that day we
will forget our war is only half won, and that while American boys are fighting and
dying in the Pacific, we can have no great celebrations. Many people are meeting,
therefore, to discuss what shall be done on V-E Day. One of my friends, who is a well-known
theatrical producer and who has written many songs which are household favorites,
has written a jingle to keep us steady on our jobs. It goes as follows:

It's not a time for booze and bar,This coming V-E Day;Just make a church of where you are,And kneel right down and pray.